by Jasmine Bridges
Daily Lobo
"The Trip" isn't a gay love story - it is simply a love story.
While writer/director Miles Swain often takes typical routes in the boy meets boy genre, the film's storyline is charming and the main characters are mostly believable. Even as the plot takes on serious issues and drops a few thoughts worth pondering on stereotypes, it still manages to be genuinely hilarious with bigots becoming the butt of jokes.
Archie-Bunker-style comedy and general silliness crops up from time to time. The soundtrack, loaded with some of the most deliciously cheesy gems of the '70s and '80s - "Bang A Gong (Get it On)" and "Oh Sheila" among them - can't help but add to the fun.
The story follows the make-up-break-up romance between a pot smoking liberal long hair named Tommy (Steve Braun) and his initially closeted Greg Brady-clone boyfriend, Alan (Larry Sullivan). The story spans from bellbottoms and the results of Stonewall to AIDS and Madonna's dirty bride phase.
Of course, after the initial beating around the bush, the usual cute romance ensues complete with flowery dialogue, heart-filled eyes and other romantic staples sure to make audience members put their hands over their hearts and sigh.
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The only real kink in the relationship - it doesn't seem like a huge one at first - is that Alan is a republican and in a society obsessed with stereotypes; republican equals straight. It becomes clear that Alan's governmental leanings place him far to the right of Tommy's strong activist-based beliefs.
The clincher of the film occurs when Alan's previous right-wing denial comes back to haunt him causing seemingly irreparable damage to his most important relationship. At last, the personal gets too political for comfort.
Of course the writer leaves a door open for Alan to make things right.
Just as one might expect, there are randy one-liners galore, packed with innuendo and delivered with a wink courtesy of Tommy.
"I just love Dick! Nixon that is," he says.
Alan's hip mother is nicely acted by Jill St. John. Then there's Michael (Alexis Arquette) the catty, but of course, totally harmless gay equivalent of the token black guy joke dispenser. Michael digs hair, casual sex and surprise, surprise, fashion. Who would've guessed? At least the movie is in on the joke.
In spite of all of the expected conventions - some passable as funny, some not - at its very best moments the romance between Alan and Tommy is played so naturally the fact that they are two guys in love ceases to be the point and they simply become two people in love. This is quite an accomplishment in the world of pop culture.
All right, so maybe "The Trip" doesn't exactly match "The Crying Game" when it comes to honestly blowing minds and leaving stereotypes in the dust. It is, however, a fun and intelligent take on the hopelessly complicated and certainly good enough to entertain even those outside of the intended demographic.
"The Trip" is now playing at Madstone Theater.
